Is there a prayer for repentance?

Jesus gave us a modeled prayer. This prayer is the only prayer that has been given to us other than those like the man-made "sinners' prayer".

So he said to them: “When you pray, say, 'Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name. Come your kingdom. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us our daily bread day by day. And forgive our sins, as we also forgive all who are indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one ”(Luke 11: 2-4).

But there are many instances throughout the Bible where repentance is shown in connection with the chapter of Psalm 51. Like many people in the Bible, we sin knowing that we are sinning and sometimes we don't even realize we are sinning. Our duty is to keep turning our backs on sin, even when it is a struggle.

Leaning on the wisdom of God
Our prayers can encourage, uplift us, and lead us to repentance. Sin leads us astray (James 1:14), consumes our minds, and takes us away from repentance. We all have a choice whether to continue sinning. Some of us battle the impulses of the flesh and our sinful desires every day.

But some of us know we are wrong and still do it anyway (James 4:17). Even though our God is still merciful and loves us enough to help us be on the path of righteousness.

So, what wisdom does the Bible give us to help us understand sin and its effects?

Well, the Bible is extraordinarily full of God's wisdom. Ecclesiastes 7 advises things like not letting yourself get angry or being overly wise. But what has caught my attention in this chapter is in Ecclesiastes 7:20, and it says, "There is certainly no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins." We cannot get rid of sin because we were born into it (Psalm 51: 5).

Temptation will never leave us in this life, but God has given us His Word to fight back. Repentance will be a part of our life as long as we live in this sinful body. These are the negative aspects of life that we must endure, but we must not let these sins rule in our hearts and minds.

Our prayers lead us to repentance when the Holy Ghost reveals to us what to repent for. There is no right or wrong way to pray for repentance. It is out of true conviction and turning away that shows that we are serious. Even if we struggle. "An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge" (Proverbs 18:15).

Leaning on the grace of God
In Romans 7, the Bible says that we are no longer bound by the law even though the law itself still serves us with divine wisdom. Jesus died for our sins, and so grace was given to us for that sacrifice. But there is a purpose in the law as it has revealed to us what our sins are (Romans 7: 7-13).

Because God is holy and sinless, he wants us to continue to repent and run away from sins. Romans 7: 14-17 states,

So the problem is not with the law, because it is spiritual and good. The problem is with me, because I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don't really understand myself, because I want to do what's right, but I don't. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know what I'm doing is wrong, it shows that I agree that the law is good. Therefore, I am not the one doing evil; it is the sin that lives in me that does it.

Sin makes us wrong, but God has given us self-control and His wisdom from His Word to turn away. We cannot excuse our sin, but by the grace of God we are saved. "For sin will have no dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace" (Romans 6:14).

But now the righteousness of God has manifested itself independently of the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it - the righteousness of God by faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. Because there is no distinction: since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, which God has proposed as a propitiation through his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine tolerance he had overcome previous sins. It was to show his righteousness in the present time, so that he could be righteous and the justification of those who have faith in Jesus (Romans 3: 21-27).

If we confess our sins, it is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all injustice (1 John 1: 9).

In the grand scheme of things, we will always be bound to sin and repentance. Our repentant prayers should come from our hearts and from the Holy Spirit within us. The Holy Spirit will guide you as you pray repentance and in all prayers.

Your prayers don't have to be perfect, nor do they have to be guided by condemnation of guilt and shame. Trust God in all things in your life. Live your life. But live as your pursuit of justice and holy life as God calls us.

A closing prayer
God, we love you with all our hearts. We know that sin and its desires will always lead us away from righteousness. But I pray that we pay attention to the conviction you give us through prayer and repentance as the Holy Ghost guides us.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for taking the sacrifice that we could never have made in our earthly and sinful bodies. It is in that sacrifice that we hope and have faith that we will soon be free of sin when we enter our new bodies as you, Father, have promised us. In the name of Jesus, Amen.